Planer machine

ABSTRACT

A carpenter planer, having a lower stationary assembly mounting a stationary, yet adjustable cutter, and an upper movable assembly including a drive motor, an endless belt driven therefrom and a plurality of stock-feed parallel rollers are provided, said upper assembly being kept in suspended position through a rotatable vertical shaft and a spring attached thereto.

1111111811 States Patent 1 1 Mochizuki Loueland .1 144/120 1451 Apr. 17, 1973 Tegtmeyer 144/120 Murray et a1 144/120 X Primary Examiner-Andrew R. Jluhasz Assistant Examiner-W. Donald Bray Att0rneySughrue, Rothwell, Mlion, Zinn & Macpeak 57 ABSTRACT A carpenter planer, having a lower stationary assembly mounting a stationary, yet adjustable cutter, and an upper movable assembly including a drive motor, an endless belt driven therefrom and a plurality of stock-feed parallel rollers are provided, said upper as sembly being kept in suspended position through a rotatable vertical shaft and a spring attached thereto.

4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 1 H975 SHEET 1 [IF 4 PATENTED APR 1 7 75 SHEET 2 OF 4 PATENTED APR 1 7197s SHEET 3 OF 4 PLANER MACHINE This invention relates to improvements in and relating to wood planer machines or carpenters planers for providing a smooth finish on the processed stock.

Conventional wood planer machines have generally such construction that the pressure and guide unit for the stock is fixed at a certain predetermined height on the machine and the cutter unit is mounted on a vertically adjustable table thereof, so as to achieve the required finished thickness of the stock.

When it is desired to use a plurality of such planer machines on line and in a gang series one after another, so as to cut a certain stock in a continuous and successive order on these machines to perform several different cuts on the stock for providing an overall heavy cut, a substantial difficulty has been encountered by differently adjusted heights of the machine tables which generally can not be set on a certain common plane by virtue of the differences in the height of the tables for providing different cutting depths.

It is therefore the main object of the present inven tion to provide a wood planer machine having a constant height table bearing a cutter unit and a pressurized stock-feeding unit which is adjustable in its height for meeting the required different cutting depths for the finished dimension of the stock, thereby providing a highly enhanced convenience for use of a ganged series of similar machines to machine the stock in a continuous and successive order and on line with easiness and high precision.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a wood planer machine of the above kind, capable of providing a resilient, well-balanced; and adjustable suspension of the pressurized stock feed unit highly adapted for surface finishing of the stock in a mass and precision working thereof.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a wood planer machine of the above kind, capable of machining a stock which may have a substantially wide and broad machining surface, yet with a substantially improved preciseness and at a high operating speed.

These and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent when read the following detailed description of the invention by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrative of a preferred sole and representative embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. I is a front view of the wood-planing and finishing machine embodying the principles of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the machine when seen from right to left in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a stock feeder unit having an independent drive motor employed in the machine shown in the foregoing, wherein certain parts are broken away and a feeder belt has been omitted from the drawing, for showing inner operating parts more clearly.

FIG. 4 is a right-hand part of an enlarged front view of the stock feeding unit shown in FIG. 3, wherein, however, several parts have been broken away and several parts are shown in section, for more clearly showing inner working parts.

FIG. 5 is a left-hand part of a front view of the stock feeding unit shown in FIG. 3, wherein, several parts have been broken away and several parts are shown in section in the similar way.

FIG. 6 is a part of FIG. 1 shown, however, on an enlarged scale, wherein substantial parts have been shown in section. v

FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view of a tool-mounting and stock-guiding unit embodied in themachine shown generally in FIGS. 1-2. 1

FIG. 8 is a front view, partially broken away, of the unit shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the section line IX-IX' shown in FIG. 7.

Referring now to the drawings, numeral 1 represents a rigid bed having substantially a. box construction as shown, said bed being shown, however, in a substantially shortened way in its height for convenience of the drawing. A tool mounting and stock-guiding unit 2 having a ships hull-like configuration when seen in FIG. 1 and a rectangular section in its main body, is fixedly mounted on the upper end of the bed by means of a plurality of fixing bolts as representatively shown at 81 and 82 in FIG. 8.

A pair of parallel and upright tubular pillars 3a and 3b are rigidly attached by their lower root ends to said unit 2, as may be most clearly understood from FIG. 7. At the upper ends of thesepillars 3a and 3b, an operating unit, generally shown at 4., is rigidly attached thereto.

Supporting slide 5 is formed with a pair of round eye I openings 8a and 8b through which the pillars 3a and 3b slidably pass, said slide 5 being made rigid with an upper supporting frame element 9 which is rigidly connected with a lower frame element 10 by a plurality of The drive motor unit 7 comprises an electric motor 34 and a reduction gear box 35 mechanically connected therewith. The motor 34 is electrically connected through leads, not shown, to a commercial power source, again not shown, while the gear box 35 is formed with an output shaft bearing 36 rigidly connected with said slide member 5 by fixing bolts 5a and 5b. An output shaft 30 extends laterally from inside of said gear box 35 and the free end of said shaft 30 is rotatably mounted in end bearing housing 24 comprising antifriction bearing 30a. The housing 24is mounted on the upper support element 9 by means of fixing bolts as at 24b (FIG. 5) and through an extension 24a made integral with said housing 24.

Drive roll 29 arranged in parallel to the rollers 13 is fixedly mounted on output shaft 30, while an idler roll 28 is rotatably mounted at the opposite side of the group of parallel rollers 13 and on the upper support element 9, as will be described more in detail hereinafter.

As seen from the foregoing, the weight of feeder unit 6 is substantially balanced out with that ofdrive motor unit 7 relative to the slide member 5, when seen in FIG. 3.

Lower frame element 10 is formed with two series of separated and rectangular recesses 14 along the upper and lower sides of said element when seen in FIG. 3 in correspondence to the stock feed rollers 13, respectively. A bearing member is positioned in each of these recesses 14 and rotatably receives a journal 13a of the roller 13. A pressure spring is abutting at its lower end against bearing member 15 from above when seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. An adjusting screw 18 passes threadedly through the upper wall part of the upper frame element 9 and abuts through a movable spring seat 19 on the upper end of each of said springs 20. A further adjusting screw 16 passes threadedly through lower frame element 10 and abuts from below on the bottom surface of each of said bearing members 15. By manual adjustment of these screws 16 and 18, vertical position of the bearing member 15 and the tension of pressure spring 20 may be adjusted, so as to arrange each of stock feed rollers 13 at a predetermined vertical distance as measured from the upper surface 60a of table 60 included in the unit 2. An endless belt 31 is threaded around the drive and idler or driven rolls 29 and 28, the inside surface of the lower run of the belt being kept in rolling contact with the feed rollers 13.

Each of the rollers 13 is fitted naturally at its both ends with a pair of the aforementioned level-adjusting mechanisms, each including adjusting screws 16 and 18 and pressure spring 20, although not specifically shown and described. The number of rollers 13 is shown as four as an example, but it can be reduced or increased from four, as occasion may desire.

As most clearly shown in FIG. 4, upper frame ele- 'ment 9 is formed at its righthand and front part with a mounting part 23 which is formed in turn with a guide slot 27 slidably receiving a bearing block 25 which receives rotatably the front end of the journal 2811 (FIG. 4) of idler roll 28. Such bearing is arranged also at the rear end of the roll 28, although not specifically shown and described for simplicity.

An adjusting screw 26 passes threadedly and horizontally through the bearing block 25 in FIG. 4, the pointed inner end of said screw being received rotatably in a cone-shapedrecess 9b formed on an intermediate wall part 9a of upper frame element 9. By screwing the screw 26 inwardly the related front journal end of idler roll 28 and bearing block 25 are moved rightwards in FIG. 4, whereby the stock feeder belt 31 is tightened. By turning the screw 26 in its opposite or loosening direction, bearing block 25 will be automatically shifted inwardly under the influence of the belt tension transmitted from the belt through idler roll 28 thereto.

On the upper surface of upper frame element 9, a pair of bolts 32 are studdedin proximity of the front and rear edge thereof, said bolts mounting rotatably respective guide rollers 33 and 33a for the guidance of stock feed belt 31, as most clearly seen from FIG. 3.

As seen from FIG. 6, the unit 4 includes a casing 4c which is formed with a pair of downwardly opening cap portions 4a and 4b. In the assembled position shown, these cap portions are snugly mounted on the upper ends of pillars 3a and 3b, respectively, and rigidly held in position by means of fixing lateral pins 101a and 101]), respectively.

An operating shaft 38 is rotatably and horizontally mounted in the casing 4c, said shaft having a slightly projecting outer end on which an operating hand wheel 40 is fixedly mounted and held in position by means of a fixing pin 102. A bevel pinion 39 is fixedly mounted on the inner end of said shaft 38 which meshes a bevel gear 41.

A mounting piece 104 is fixed to the casing 40, although the fixing means have been omitted from the drawing only for simplicity, and thrust bearing 46 is mounted on the mounting piece 104 for rotatably mounting said bevel gear 41. A substantially threaded support shaft 44 passes through said mounting piece 104, thrust bearing 46 and bevel gear 41, the latter being attached fixedly on the upper end of said support shaft by means of a positioning pin 103.

Support shaft 44 is formed at its intermediate point with a shoulder 44a, a collar ring 47 being inserted between the bottom surface of said mounting piece 104 and said shaft shoulder 44a for preventing relative movement between the shaft 44 and the bevel gear 41. Thanks to this construction, the shaft 44 can rotate without changing its height when rotation in transmitted thereto from manipulating handle wheel 40 through operating shaft 38, bevel pinion 39 and bevel gear 41.

An intermediate portion 48 of slide member 5 extending between said openings 8a and 8b is formed with a further opening 48a and a cup-shaped member 49 passes therethrough and the flange 43 thereof is fixedly attached to said portion 48 by means of fixing bolts and 106 and further threadedly coupled with a threaded sleeve 51. The gap g formed between the lower surface of collar 47 and the upper end of sleeve 51 is shown on the drawing at its smallest possible size and it may be increased to a substantially large value, as will become clear as the description proceeds. Numeral 50 represents a tapped ring which is positioned within the interior space of said cup-shaped member 49 and kept in mesh with the support shaft 44 at an intermediate position along its entire length. A coil spring 52 is positioned within the interior space of the member 49. As shown, .the shaft 44 passes through a bottom opening 49a formed through cup-shaped member 49 further downwards. Members 50 and 49 can perform an axial movement relative to each other, allowing, however, no relative rotational movement therebetween. For this purpose, the contacting periphery of these two members may be of hexagonal configuration or the like, although not specifically shown. By the provision of said spring 52, the rigid combination of several parts 49, 43 and 5 is urged always resiliently in the downward direction, when seen in FIGS. 1, 2, and 6.

By rotating hand wheel 40 in one or the other directions, the shaft 44 is rotated in the corresponding direction, as was briefly described hereinbefore. With rotation of shaft 44, the ring 50 is threadedly moved upwards or downwards, as the case may be, and the slide member 5 carrying the units 6 and 7 will follow the movement. In this way, the positioning level of these units 6 and 7 can be modified as desired.

On the unit 4, and in proximity to the manipulating hand wheel 40, there is provided an indicating scale 53, while an indicator 54 is fixedly mounted on slide member 5, so as to cooperate with said scale, as seen in FIG. 6. Therefore, the selected height of the unit 6 can be identified by observing the indicator 54 relative to scale 53.

Tool-holding and stock-guiding unit 2 comprises an elongated stationary table 60, the plane configuration thereof being clearly seen from FIG. 7. This table 60 represents a truely and precisely plane and smooth upper surface, formed at its central portion when seen in the longitudinal direction with laterally bulged-out portions 60a and 60b, and with a substantially circular, forwardly opened recess 61, a small turn table 62 being rotatably mounted in this recess.

Turn table 62 comprises a knife stock 63 having a generally and substantially rectangular vertical section and fitted as conventionally with. a cutting tool assembly 64 and a guide member 65 for wood shavings, the both being detachably and adjustably attached to the knife stock 63 by means of respective fixing bolts 66 and 67. These fixing bolts 66 and 67 pass through their bolt holes 66a and 67a, respectively with idle can be adjusted in their attaching position, respectively, by adjustment of set screws 73 and 74, as most clearly be seen from FIG. 9.

At the front center of the table 60, and in close proximity to the turn table, a readable scale 71 is fixedly mounted, so as to determine the selected turned position of the turn table, although the indicator similar to that shown at 54 and fixedly attached to said turn table is not specifically shown for simplicity.

Table 60 is formed on its front surface with a partially female-threaded projection 70 in an axial bore of which a clamp pin 69 and a partially threaded and knobbed plug 68 are inserted for clamping the turn I table to its occasionally selected rotary position.

A pair of support bars 75 and 75a are fixedly attached by their respective root ends to the table and mount in turn rotatable return rollers 76 and 76a, respectively. This stock return means is not necessarily provided when a plurality of these machines are ar-' ranged on line for machining the stocks in a continuous and successive way in order to subject them to successive and different planing degrees.

At the right-hand end of table 60, a scale member 78 is fixedly attached and a pair of guide dogs 79 and 79a are slidably mounted on the member. These dogs are selectively positioned by manual adjustment thereof along the member 78 and once in position can be fixed by tightening their fixing screws 77 and 77a, respectively. Wood stock as at l00shown by imaginary line in FIGS. 1 and 2 is guided slidingly between these dogs.

The operation of the planer machine so far shown and described is as follows:

At first, the tension in the stock feed belt 31 is properly adjusted for suitable drive of the pressurizing and guiding rollers 13.

Next, the upper movable assembly comprising the units 5, 6 and 7 is lowered by-turning the wheel in one direction, until the belt 29 is brought into contact with the upper surface of unit 2.

Then, the adjusting screws 17 for all the rollers 13 are manipulated to provide a certain predetermined spring pressure upon bearing blocks 15. The lower adjusting screws 16 are adjusted so as to maintain the axes of all the rollers 13 in a common horizontal plane parallel to the upper surface of the unit 2.

Next, the said upper assembly is elevated to a certain predetermined effective height measured from the upper surface of the unit 2, said effective height being equal to the finished thickness of the wood stock as at 100.

Next, rotate the turn table 62 to a desired rotary position thereof, where the cutting straight edge of the cutting knife establishes preferably a certain inclined angle, such as, relative to the travelling direction of the stock on the table 60. Then, fix the thus set position of the turn table by manipulation of a fixing lever 107 (FIGS. 1 and 7).

Next, turn main switch 108 appearing in FIGS. 1 and 6 on, so as to feed power from commercial current source, not shown, to motor unit 7. In this way, drive roll 29 is brought into rotation, thereby stock feed belt 31 and feed rollers 13 being also brought into rotation.

At this stage, the stock 100 is fed from a certain conveyor means, or a preceding similar machine, not shown, between the guide dogs 79 and 79a, which are properly adjusted in their position along scale 78, and until the stock 100 is caught between the belt 31 and the table 60.

In this way, the newly fed stock 100 engages the belt 31 in a manner which carries the stock from left to right in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 and under pressure. lfa certain undesirable projection such as a knot is present on either upper or lower surface of the stock, the upper assembly will become raised correspondingly and resiliently against the action of suspension spring 52. Upon passage of the projection from contact with the belt 31 or the upper surface of table 60, said assembly will be lowered automatically by own weight thereof by virtue of itssuspension through the screwed shaft or assured. The elastic and precisely guided suspension of the upper assembly from the uppermost unit 4 willassure a high precision cutting job. The weight balance of the motor and reduction gearing assembly 7 andthe stock-pressurizing and feeding unit 6 relative to the slide 5 will enhance the preciseness of the cutting job still further. The combination of the elongated belt 31 with a series of pressure rollers 13 assures naturally a precise cutting over a wide surface area to be finished.

When it is desired to process a large series ofstocks in a gang series of similar planer machines in a continuous and mass productive order, these machines can be arrange in line' in such a way that all the surfaces of the units 2 of the machines are positioned on a common horizontal plane. With such arrangement, a continuous .and high precision work can be assured in a high speed production.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are as follows:

1. A carpenter planer, comprising a stationary, yet angularly adjustable cutter, a turn table mounting said cutter, a stock-guide table on which a wood stock is fed in sliding contact therewith, and a pressure feed unit J adapted for pressure contact with said stock and for feeding said stock on said table, said planer being relative to a slide which is arranged slidable along stationary pillars extending uprightly fromsaid lower unit.

3. A carpenter planer as claimed in claim 1, characterized by that said pressure feed unit comprises an endless belt driven from said motor and a plurality of stock feed rollers arranged parallel to each other and kept in driving contact with said belt.

4. A carpenter planer as set forth in claim 1, characterized by that said suspension is made through a rotatable upright shaft. 

1. A carpenter planer, comprising a stationary, yet angularly adjustable cutter, a turn table mounting said cutter, a stockguide table on which a wood stock is fed in sliding contact therewith, and a pressure feed unit adapted for pressure contact with said stock and for feeding said stock on said table, said planer being characterized by that a lower assembly comprising said cutter, said turn table and said stock-guide table is mounted stationary during planer operation of the machine, and an upper assembly comprising the pressure feed unit and an independent electric motor mechanically connected therewith is kept in an elastically suspended position relative to said lower assembly.
 2. A carpenter planer as set forth in claim 1, characterized by that said pressure feed unit and said electric motor are arranged in a weight-balancing relationship relative to a slide which is arranged slidable along stationary pillars extending uprightly from said lower unit.
 3. A carpenter planer as claimed in claim 1, characterized by that said pressure feed unit comprises an endless belt driven from said motor and a plurality of stock feed rollers arranged parallel to each other and kept in driving contact with said belt.
 4. A carpenter planer as set forth in claim 1, characterized by that said suspension is made through a rotatable upright shaft. 